Program Overview
Our Special Education programs are designed to prepare special education teachers who will become leaders of the field and well prepared to meet the needs of these students with disabilities in the 21st century. The program is primarily centered upon those students with learning (e.g., learning disabilities, speech/language disorders, and mental retardation) and/or behavioral difficulties (e.g., attention difficulties, conduct disorders, and autism) but also provides training in how to work with students with other disabilities as well (e.g., physical impairments, vision and hearing impairments, and multiple disabilities).
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All students take a core set of courses in special education designed to give an overview of the field, types of disabilities, effective interventions, and current issues. Since reading difficulties are frequent amongst students in special education, students complete a series of coursework designed to give a strong foundation in literacy development and effective reading instruction.
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Additionally, extensive coursework in behavioral disorders and intervention give a strong foundation in how to effectively work with students with behavioral difficulties. Throughout the program, much discussion is devoted to understanding how to provide appropriate services with students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
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Students without a master's degree enroll in the M.Ed. in Special Education program. Students with a master's degree, enroll in the Ed.S. in Special Education program. Students who wish to earn a teaching certificate along with a special education endorsement enroll in the Masters in Teaching with Special Education Endorsement program. Students with a teaching certicate and only wish to add the endorsement in special education without pursuing an additional degree enroll in the Endorsement Only Program in Special Education. Related programs within the College of Education include the Literacy for Special Needs and the Curriculum and Instruction programs.
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Completion of the M.Ed., Ed.S., or Endorsement Only Program in Special Education or Master in Teaching with Special Education Endorsement fulfills the course requirements for the Washington State endorsement in special education. For additional information regarding the special education endorsement, click here.
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